According to German tradition, partaking of a roast pork dinner on Christmas Eve will prevent evil and promote prosperity in the New Year. Pigs are considered to be symbols of good fortune, thrift and savings. Children are traditionally given piggy banks to encourage them to save.

All of these definitions are courtesy of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. I'm sure it won't surprise you that an ornament addict would be on their mailing list:@)

The Pickle:

The pickle brings good luck and was the last ornament placed on the tree. On Christmas morning the first child to find the gherkin was rewarded with an extra gift left by St. Nicholas. This encouraged them to appreciate all of the ornaments on the tree, rather than hurrying to see what St. Nick left for them.

The Nutcracker:

They were traditionally dressed as soldiers and kings. Villagers took satisfaction in having these authoritative figures perform the menial task of cracking nuts. Some may still crack nuts, but the real joy is their colorful presence decorating the home.

The Christmas Tree:

Because it stays green all through the year, the evergreen tree is symbolic of the eternal life offered through faith in Christ. The treetop points heavenward. A star signifies the special star which guided the wise men to Bethlehem. Lights represent Christ, the "Light of the World". Gifts beneath the tree are representative of God's gift of His only begotten Son, who brings Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.

That's just a few of the most traditional symbols, there are many more!

If there's an interest please let me know and I'll do another post or two.

Have a happy day:@)

Please join my "The Reason For The Season" party and showcase your nativity-details HERE!

This is such a great post! It's always neat to learn new facts about Christmas. I'm a Nutcracker Collector, and this was a new story to me. Thanks for sharing, and of course I'd love to hear more. Happy Pink Saturday!

I have wanted to get a pickle to put on the tree! I think that is a great tradition. We are heavy on the German heritage and I sent my aunt one years ago but never got myself one. We are big fans of nutcrackers though. Love all the traditions. Happy PS.

Hi Sweetie...I just had to pop back over. I went on line and found a dozen pickle ornaments for $13.00 on Amazon. I am going to add one into each of the grandkids stocking, and send one to my Momma and Daddy for their tree, keep one for mine, and I have a couple of friends that I think need one as well. Thank you for sharing with me this beautiful tradition.

This is a WONDERFUL post Lynn!!! Our Christmas traditions sometimes take over the true meaning of everything and it's SO NICE of you to share these beautiful things with us... I MUST share these, I hope you don't mind... Hugs to you, Donna

Thank tou for this post!!! Many of us here in Italy have also the "presepe", it's nativity ...I prepare two very niceevry year..probably before Xmas I'm going to show you them on my blog!!!!...I love the pickle tradition.... !!!Happy pink Saturday....ciao Flavia

Hello Lynn,so funny to discover on your blog the German words "wir haben Schwein". I guess, many Germany don't even know where it came from. But a pig was always a symbol of wealth and good life. It gains weight day for day with some leftovers and in the end it was a lot of meat to eat and to share with others. I guess, thats why a the pig is here often used as piggy bank. In former times it was used in small comunities to invite all neighbors when a pig was butchered. Then all workend together to make sausage and to salt and smoke the meat and eat and drink. It was not easy to store a lot meat that times. And when the neighbor butchered his pig, you where invited as well. If you "had a pig = wir hatten Schwein" it literally meant you had the luck to have lots of good food and that was similar to a nice life. LyNN, you always have a SUCH lot of pigs! You are the most lucky person, I know. LOLI love to learn all those cute traditions. I had seen often strange Christmas ornaments and always wondered what a gherkin had to do with Christmas. Now I know. It's a wonderful challenge to find the gherkin. Love that.And thank you for this link to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. Was so nice to browse there.Have a great time and always "have a pig".Greetings, Johanna

All wonderful traditions! Love the pickle idea and I love nutcrackers but of course the Christmas tree is my favourite! Wonderful post! Happy Pink Saturday and thanks for sharing. I would love to read more! Enjoy your weekend.

Great post today! Being of German Heritage, we always have Pork on New Years day, for good luck! Also did you know that it is physically impossible for a pig to look backwards and can only look ahead. So having pork is to remind us to always look to the future and not dwell on the past. My mom always hid a pickle ornament in the tree, even before it became popular in the US.

Hi Lynn, we always have a pickle on our tree, and I have some caroler children holding pickles too! That is the strangest tradition of many at Christmas time. I loved your explanation of the symbolism of the tree. Can't wait to see everyone's ornaments this month!!!! We can have a contest for the most addicted ornament collector! Linda

Lynn, I enjoyed those. Yes, please give us more info on the symbolism. Very fun facts. I am always amazed by fun facts about holidays. I have been most interested lately in the German traditions of Christmas.ThanksSherry

We just did early Christmas with one of our sons since we won't see him then, and he and my daughter in law gave us marzipan pigs. I wasn't familiar with that tradition until she explained it to us. I'll have to send them a pickle (pigkle?) for their tree. :)

I'm going to avert my eyes 'til I scroll past your countdown :) I have never heard of the pickle ornament and tradition, but I like it!--at least now that the kids are grown I would like it. When they were younger, they would have fought over the pickle--come to think of it, they still might :)

We always had fresh ham on New Years Day, and we are Irish. My dh has some German in him, and they always ate creamed herring. TH that wasn't done at our house!I think I will buy a pickle for the gkids...mmm, maybe not, they will knock everything over looking for it!

I love the Bronner's catalog! I am a little bit of an ornament addict myself...ok...I'm a BIG ornament addict...lol I buy an ornament on every vacation I take as a reminder and I love looking at them all on my tree.

Hi Lynn, a late visit but this Thanksgiving weekend was full to the brim with food and company. We loved every busy minute.I love your symbols of Christmas and the holiday season. Some I didn't know.Hugs, Jeanne

Hi Lynn, I'm your newest follower. Really like your post today! I'd found out about the pickle about 10 years ago from a girl at work! Where have I been??? Didn't know about the pork on Christmas Eve, either. That's something my German ancestors forgot to pass on! LOL!XoXoXoJoy

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About Me

My boys are grown and on their own and while the day job puts food on the table, it doesn't feed the soul. So this Philly Girl started Pig In Mud. Please join me as I welcome each season and holiday through brief posts focusing on home cooking, baking and crafts. I hope you'll find this a happy place that provides inspiration:@) Lynn